Bill de Blasio
Streetsblog Basics
Brooklyn Bus Stop Draws Bigger Crowd Than Thompson Anti-BRT “Rally”
With extremely low turnout expected for tomorrow's mayoral election, Bill Thompson and Mike Bloomberg canvassed the city over the weekend trying to drum up some enthusiasm for their candidacies. For Thompson, the itinerary included a stop in Bedford Stuyvesant this Saturday to protest plans for improving bus service along Nostrand Avenue.
November 2, 2009
Can Livable Streets Activism Revive the Public Advocate’s Office?
From a livable streets perspective, the race for public advocate is that rare contest with no clear-cut villains.
September 14, 2009
Bill de Blasio Comes Out for $2 East River Bridge Tolls
Late last week, Brooklyn City Council member and current candidate for public advocate Bill de Blasio released this statement on MTA funding:
April 6, 2009
Congestion Pricing Foe Bill de Blasio (Grand)Standing Up for Straphangers
Tonight, the MTA will host a public hearing in Brooklyn, where the agency will undoubtedly hear from scores of residents terrified by the prospect of elimination or reduction of service on several of the borough's bus and subway lines. The self-appointed leader of the charge will be candidate for public advocate and current City Council Member Bill de Blasio, who sent out this e-mail blast ahead of tonight's meeting (via Gowanus Lounge):
January 28, 2009
Council Members Urge Bloomberg to Order Car-Free Prospect Park Trial
Last month, as school-age volunteers presented 10,001 signatures in support of a car-free Prospect Park, three City Council Members -- David Yassky, Bill de Blasio and Letitia James -- issued a letter to Mayor Bloomberg requesting a three-month car-free pilot program. The full text appears below.
October 7, 2008
Transit Activist Gary Reilly in the Hunt for City Council Seat
Gary Reilly, the Brooklynite whose petition drive for subway service improvements drew thousands of signatures last summer, is running to replace term-limited Bill de Blasio on the City Council. A Carroll Gardens resident and neighborhood blogger, Reilly has made transit the centerpiece of his campaign.
July 8, 2008
De Blasio’s Excuse: There Shoulda Been a Brooklyn Lock Box
Yesterday, a reader sent along City Council Member Bill de Blasio's letter to constituents [PDF] explaining his "Nay" vote on congestion pricing. Plenty of campaign fodder here, should someone who really believes in funding transit, bike, and pedestrian improvements challenge de Blasio in the 2009 race for Brooklyn Borough President. (His known opponent, Charles Barron, also voted no.) A few choice excerpts:
April 11, 2008
Pro-Pricing PAC Puts Pols on Notice
De Blasio, Jeffries, Gerson, Millman: Will they tarnish their environmental records by voting against pricing?
March 27, 2008
Quinn Says MTA Troubles Show Why We Need Pricing
Care of the Observer Politicker comes this video from earlier today. Speaking at City Hall, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn turns around a question from a reporter on whether the MTA can be trusted with congestion pricing revenues, given that promised upgrades tied to the recent fare increase will be delayed. Quinn calls the MTA's actions "outrageous," and suggests the congestion pricing lock box will give the city more control over the transit agency.
March 26, 2008